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Geographic Data is not just about SIG

Preamble

| Julien Vandanjon-Rancoule | Category (en-gb)

In 2024, geographic data has become an indispensable tool across various industries, revolutionizing how we interact with the physical world. From the press to archaeology, public infrastructure, museography, and cultural mediation, the applications of geographical data are vast and ever-evolving. This article delves into the significance of geographic data, the advancements in data gathering technologies, and the implications of its use, highlighting the crucial role of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Digital Assets Management (DAM) systems in shaping our future.

Geographical data accross the industries

  • Press: In journalism, geographic data aids in visual storytelling, helping to contextualize news events. Reporters use it to analyze and communicate complex stories, such as climate change via meaningful dataviz or political conflicts, with a spatial dimension. Journalists use advanced digital assistants to dive into an increasing amount of information and live camera feeds from the field, allowing to dig into asset clouds by location along the crew journey.

  • Archaeology: Archaeologists leverage geographic data for site discovery and excavation planning. Technologies like LiDAR and photogrammetry reveal hidden structures and landscapes, transforming our understanding of historical sites. This reveals a new challenge for digital conservation as the diversity of encoding standards quickly expanded. Some platforms aim to harmonize the storage and display such as sketchfab. The interesting point is here the convergence between classical survey operations and object digitization into common interfaces and aggregated tools for quick sharing and commenting.

  • Public Infrastructure: In public infrastructure projects, geographic data ensures efficient planning and management. It helps in routing, zoning, and environmental impact assessment, leading to more sustainable development. It is no surprise that historical partners of survey operations such as Faro and Autocad quickly became leaders in providing integrated solutions.

  • Museography and Cultural Mediation: Museums use geographic data to trace the origins of artifacts and create immersive, interactive exhibits. This technology bridges the gap between historical artifacts and modern audiences, enhancing educational experiences. Lascaux VR by Dassault systems has been a vibrant showcase for the mediation technologies as per La Cité du Volcan in Réunion Island.

...not mentionning the usual driving assistants and itinerary calculators, and other tools so oftenly used we take it for granted. 

2021 EU Report : Integration of Geographic and Statistical data for better policy making

Advancements in Geographical data gathering

Completing the historical toolbox : survey mapping, aerial photography, bathymetry and satellite imagery, already highly contributing the strategic sector of geointelligence, are new incomers coming for a extended range of industries such as smartphone manufacturers, cinema providers and entertainment.

  • LiDAR Technology: Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) has become more affordable and accessible, providing detailed 3D models of physical environments. Its precision is invaluable in industries like archaeology and urban planning.

  • Drone Technology: Drones have revolutionized data collection, offering a bird's-eye view of landscapes. They are crucial in mapping, agriculture, and environmental monitoring.

  • Photogrammetry: This technique, involving photographs from different angles, creates detailed maps and models. It's widely used in museography for artifact reconstruction.

Surfing the wave of the thriving geodata ecosystem a number of new actors also emerge such as Prométhée New Space.

Sample : Dunes de Biville Heritage 360 Gamified experience, France 2022

The Role of Video Game and Entertainment Industries

  • Nvidia's Contribution: Nvidia, a leading GPU manufacturer, has propelled the processing capabilities for geographic data. Their hardware supports complex computations required for analyzing vast amounts of spatial data. Boosted by the power of big data, the sector now also count with new extrusion capabilities from 2D source images based on a rising community of developpers working on depth AI analysis.

  • Epic Games and Reality Capture: Epic Games, known for its acquisition of Reality Capture software, has brought photogrammetry to the forefront, aiding in creating realistic environments in gaming and film industries with low cost equipment on top of dedicated solutions such as Matterport, widely used in museography and Real Estate, and Leica BLK GeoSystems well known by most of Architecture Specialists.

Risks of Geographic Data in Public Information

  • Leaking Sensitive Information: The inclusion of geographic data in public releases, like social media posts, can inadvertently expose high-value assets or strategic locations, posing security risks.

  • Threat to Natural Resources: Revealing the locations of endangered species or sensitive ecosystems can lead to exploitation and harm, emphasizing the need for responsible data sharing.

Sample : Sea turtle in Reunion Island in animal hospital Kelonia after being hit by a boat of tourists doing selfies for social media in 2021 - source : Objet Témoin

The Future: Combining GIS and DAM Systems

Benefits :

  • Cross-Platform Development: Integrating GIS with Digital Assets Management systems is crucial for cross-platform developments. This synergy enables efficient management and utilization of geographic data across different media.

  • AI-Assisted Governance and Automation: The future beckons the use of AI in geographical data governance. AI can automate workflows, enhance data accuracy, and offer predictive analytics, paving the way for smarter decision-making.

As we advance in 2024, the integration of geographic data in various industries highlights its undeniable value. However, with great power comes great responsibility. The blend of Geographic Information Systems and Digital Assets Management systems emerges as a critical solution. This integration, coupled with AI, will not only streamline data management but also ensure ethical and efficient use of geographic information. The future of geographic data is not just about technological advancement; it's about harnessing these tools for sustainable and responsible growth across all sectors.